Sleigh.



F. RUEBENHAGEN.

SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHBBT 1.

OOLUMBIA PMNOORAPH cm, WASHINGTON. Dv c.

F. RUEBENHAGEN.

SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1911.

1,082,299. Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y M Attorney FREDERICK RUEBENHAGEN, OF GAYLORD, MINNESOTA.

SL'EIGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 29,

Patented July 9, 1912.

1911. Serial No. 630,038.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnrox RUEBEN- HAGEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gaylord, in the county of Sibley and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to new and useful improvements in sleighsand especially sleigh runners and the main object thereof is to providea runner that will pass over any rise or obstruction upon the groundwithout materially disturbing the equilibrium of the body of the sleigh.

Another object of my invention is to provide shafts that are so arrangedas to protect the runners of the sleigh from any obstacle that mightcome in contact therewith.

A further object of my invention is to "provide means at the forward endof the sleigh and attached to the body thereof to prevent sidewisemovement of said runners when turning afcurve and to brace the run nersagainst such movement to relieve the strain on the axle or spindle uponwhich said runners are mounted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as aredescribed in this specification, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part thereof and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

Reference being had to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof a sleigh embodying my improvements, one of the runners beingillustrated as about to pass over an obstruction. It will be noted thatthe box or body of the sleigh is nearly level. Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof a sleigh embodying my improvements. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevationalview of a sleigh to which my improved runners have been attached. Fig. 4is a perspective view of one of the runners, the ends thereof beingbroken away. Fig. 5is a perspective view of one end of the wooden beamwhich extends under the body of the sleigh to the ends of which aresecured bearing boxes as means whereby the runners of the sleigh arepivotally held in position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the manner in whichthe semi-circular member 14 is held pivotally to the body of the sleighand Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, Vertical, fragmentary sectional viewthrough the semi-circular member and the means for securing it pivotallyand rot-atably to the forward end of said sleigh.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout, my invention is described as follows:The body 1 has secured to the under side thereof a transverse beam 2 toeach end of which is secured a bearing box 3. Each of said boxes 3 isprovided with downwardly projecting centrally perforated lugs 4 spacedapart so that the hub 5 may be readily interposed between said lugs, thelongitudinal opening 6 therein registering with perforations in the lugs4. A bolt or spindle 7 is passed through the registering perforationsthereby securing the inner hub in pivotal position to the bearing boxes.

The hubs 5 are secured to a metallic strip 8 by means of a plurality ofbraces 9 formed integral with each. Each of the strips 8 are secured totheir respective runners 10 by means of screws 11 or any other wellknown means adapted for the purpose. The forward end of each runner iscurved upwardly as at 12, being provided in their upper ends withperforations 13. A semicircular member 14 is pivotally held to theforward end of the body 1 by means of a plate 15 provided with a pair ofupwardly extending perforated lugs 16 at its forward end. Said plate issecured to the under face of thebody of the sleigh by screws or anyother common means adapted for the purpose. is the rear bifurcated endof the rod 17 by means of a pin or bolt 18 extending through theperforations in the prongs of the bifurcated portions and saidperforations in the lugs 16. It will be seen that the rod 17 is adaptedfor movement in a vertical plane. The rod 17 extends through thesemi-circular member 14 centrally allowing rotary movement of saidmember. (See Fig. 7.) In each end of the semi-circular member 14 is aslot 18 which-registers with the perforation in the end of itsrespective runner, a nut and bolt connection 19 being passed throughsaid registering perforations and corresponding slots in such manner asto allow a slight movement of the ends of the runners in relation to therespective ends of the semi-circular member 14. The function of thesemi-circular member 14 is to support the forward ends of the runnersand to prevent sidewise movement of said run- Pivotally held between thelugs 16 ners when they come in contact with an ob- W .clficconstructlon, combmatlon, and arrangestruction upon the ground or whenthe .ve-

hicle is turning a curve, thereby relieving the strain upon the hub 5,and spindle 7 of The semi-circular member 14: p

each runner. does not prevent the pivotal movement of the runners upontheir spindles as the said member is, as above described, pivotally andi rotatably held to the forward end of the body of the'sleigh. In Fig. 1will be seen the position of the semi circular member at the time thatone of-the runners is passing.

the end of the spindle 7 upon its respective side of the sleigh, whenthe nuts 21 are placedupon their respective spindles securing the shaftsin'position as well as the hubs of the runners. One of the shafts iscurved inward at 22 and the other is curved outward at 22. They aretogether provided with a swingletree 23, which swingle' tree is securedto a transverse beam 24. Thus it will be seen that the shafts 20 are soarranged that the horse will travel in front of the left hand runner ofthe sleigh. By such an arrangement, it will be seen, that the horse willtravel in the trodden track of the road, instead of in the center of theroad, as is usually the case. The shafts, it will be seen, protect therunners from interference with any object that they might come incontactwith which is elevated from the ground," such as, for instance, a fencepost or another vehicle, etc. It will also be noted that the strain whenmaking a turn is almost entirely transmitted to the sleigh by the shaftsthrough the body thereof, thereby tending to relieve the tension uponthe runners asmuch as possible.

Although I have specifically described the novel features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of the parts of my invention,yet I do not confine myself to such spement but reserve and may exercisethe right -t0 make such changes therein as do not depart from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 7 I

' Having described my invention what I claimas new anddesire to secureby Letters and means secured to the forward end of the sleigh body toprevent the runners from swerving in either direction, substantially asshown. l

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a sleigh bodywith a pair of runners, means whereby the runners are pivotally held tosaid body, said means comprising a hub provided upon each runner andbearing boxes provided under the body of the sleigh, each bearing boxfor the reception of a respective hub, thereby securing the hubsrotatably in position, and means at the forward end of the sleigh bodyto prevent sidewise movement of the runners, said means comprising asemi-circular member 1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). O.

has

